Royal Jacob's-Ladder

Polemonium carneum

Native to:
United States

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Polemoniaceae
Genus:
Polemonium
Species:
Polemonium carneum
USDA Symbol:
POCA4

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb , Subshrub
Height:
50 cm
Light Requirements:
Part Shade
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
may,jun,jul
Bloom Colors:
pink, lavender, salmon

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer Resistant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers cool, shaded environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate best with cold stratification and light exposure. Sow on surface or barely cover.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: 80 days of cool(38F)/moist stratification

Source: npn.rngr.net